This section is being constantly updated with workshops and special events we have planned for you….The Round the Reservoir Race (The Marr) Saturday morning – it starts and finishes, as usual, outside The Duke of Cumberland pub. The course is approximately two miles long. All ages and abilities are welcome, and there will be a medal for everyone who finishes. If nothing else, it’s a great way to run off that Friday night excess and get you in the groove for another fabulous day of music and fun. And if you don’t want to run, just come along and support the runners as they power their way to the finish….Ukulele workshops Saturday (The School)9:30am and Sunday (The Church) 10:30am- an absolute beginner’s workshop on Saturday and an improvers event on Sunday. Be ready to sing, have fun and surprise yourself. This workshop is suitable for total beginners (aged 8 – 80+) and those who have made a start but cannot join chords together. If you have your own ukulele please bring it along, but we will also have 12 ‘spare’ ukuleles for people to borrow. There will an opportunity on Sunday to be part of a performance of what we have learned (The Church 11:30am)– so make sure you invite your friends to come and see you at the performance – they will be stunned! This a great opportunity for parents and children to do an activity together.Photography competition – All weekend – £1 entry Adults and child categories. Enter your MOM themed photos for your chance to win great prizes! Photos will be taken in digital format straight from your camera or cameraphone throughout the festival (so you don’t need access to a printer). Enter at the Scrumptious Sweets Stall throughout the festival, winners will be announced late sunday afternoon.The Young Musicians’ Showcase (The Church) Saturday afternoon 5pm – each year we are delighted to provide a show of young and emerging talent drawn from local schools by music teacher Ben Draper. Get there early if you want a seat.Morris and Clog – All weekend – The Hexham Morris Men and Hexhamshire Lasses will Dance Out at various times during the festival and there will be a workshop to learn yourself.Circus (The Big Top on the school field) Saturday & Sunday: 12pm, 3pm & 5:30pm / All weekend – Astral Circus will be performing in their special big yellow and red Big Top as well as strolling around the festival. They will also be running circus skills workshops. Magic – All weekend – look out for our resident magicians Stuart Bowie and Brian Stokes as they bewilder and bemuse you wandering around. Nature Walk – Sunday morning – Music on the Marr is on the edge of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Explore one of its most beautiful corners, Geltsdale. Local walking guide writer, Mark Richards, will lead a morning’s walk through this lovely valley. Mark is a real enthusiast and is often on radio and television sharing his joy in walking and the great outdoors. The walk will not only show you the delights of our wonderful countryside but will also uncover sites of prehistoric interest. The walk is suitable for adults and children. Sturdy shoes or light walking boots would be a good idea.Details of other walks are listed in the Festival Programme.Ben Gates Sound Sculptures – All weekend – Ben’s workshops are run using a specially designed kit that enables participants to easily create large colourful abstract musical structures. Playful components comprise of tuned percussion instruments inspired by xylophones, marimbas, chimes, horns, whistles, bongos, organ pipes and gongs. Think of it as a mini sound park. No age limits.The Five Ring Circus fire troupe – Saturday evening – is a group of 10 young ladies aged between 12 and 15 years old. Join them as the present to you an display of fire circus and dancing, performing skills with fire hula hoops, poi and Acro staff in a show full of elegance, grace and power. Supported by Danny5 and Claire from Labyrinth who return to Music on the Marr. these young women are inspiring and there show is one to watch.Poetry (The Duke of Cumberland) Saturday (children) and Sunday (adults) morning – write poems about Music on the Marr while you’re with us. Bring your poem along to a gathering in the Duke on Sunday morning at 10am and we’ll all have a chance to share our words, thoughts and impressions, and hear what you’ve written. All ages, styles and abilities are welcome. The Artisans’ Market (The Watson Institute) All weekend – take some time out from the music, beer and street theatre to pop into the Watson Institute and take a look at the Pennine Artisans’ Market. You’ll find the work of Cumbrian (mostly) artists and craftspeople with a range of art and goodies on offer.